Evidence of alphabetic knowledge in writing: connections to letter and word identification skills in preschool and kindergarten

Abstract

The writing skills of 286 children (157 female and 129 male) were studied by comparing name writing and letter writing scores from preschool to kindergarten with letter and word reading scores over the same time period. Two rubrics for scoring writing were compared to determine if scores based on multiple components (i.e., letter formation, orientation on the vertical axis, left–right orientation, and correct letter sequencing) would better reflect differences in children’s writing knowledge in preschool and kindergarten than rubrics composed of one component (i.e., letter formation only). While developmental changes in writing scores were found, little additional information was provided by multiple component scoring rubrics compared to the single component rubric. Letter writing scores were more strongly related to letter and word reading scores than name writing scores but neither writing score was predictive of growth. Implications of the findings for intentional/systematic writing instruction in preschool curricula are discussed.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Scoring rubric for name writing

Letter Formation (without respect to orientation or sequence):

• 0 No attempt or refusal

• 1 Wrote something, including drawings, scribbles, or random letters

• 2 Wrote one or two letters of the name in a recognizable manner regardless of form

• 3 Wrote one or two letters of the name with good form (easily recognizable alphabet letter; each component correctly placed; e.g., vertical line of lower-case d is oriented to the right, touching the loop not connected to the center or displaced from the loop).

• 4 Wrote several letters of the name in a recognizable manner regardless of form

• 5 Wrote several letters of the name with good form

• 6 Wrote all letters of the name in a recognizable manner regardless of form

• 7 All letters of the name were written with good form

Letter Formation Total: ______

Orientation of name letters on the vertical axis (score only non-mirror letters):

• 0 None correct (reversed or upside down), no attempt or refusal

• 1 Wrote one or two letters without reversal or upside down

• 2 Wrote several letters without reversal or upside down

• 3 Wrote all letters of the name without reversal or upside down

Vertical Orientation Total: ______

Left to Right Orientation of name letters:

• 0 Wrote name from right to left, refusal, or scribble

• 1 Wrote name from left to right or wrote only first letter

Left/Right Orientation Total: ______

Sequence:

• 0 Scribble, first letter not written in first position, or refusal

• 1 First letter of name in 1st position on the left

• 2 More than the 1st letter in correct position, with no additional letters inserted between

• 3 All letters of the name in correct position, with no additional letters inserted anywhere

Sequence Total: ______

Name Writing Total Score ______

Appendix 2: Scoring rubric for letter writing

Letter Formation (without respect to orientation):

• 0 No attempt or refusal

• 1 Wrote something, including drawings, scribbles, or random letters

• 2 Wrote one or two letters in a recognizable manner regardless of form

• 3 Wrote one or two letters with good form

• 4 Wrote several letters in a recognizable manner regardless of form

• 5 Wrote several letters with good form

• 6 Wrote all letters in a recognizable manner regardless of form

• 7 All letters were written with good form

Letter Formation Total: ______

Orientation on the vertical axis (score only non-mirror letters):

• 0 No attempt or refusal, scribble, or random letters

• 1 Wrote one or two letters without reversal

• 2 Wrote several letters without reversal

• 3 Wrote all letters without reversal

Vertical Orientation Total: ______

Letter Writing Total Score: ______